No.17 - 01/2006

25 January 2006

Thai-Burma Relations

Contract farming blamed for increased land confiscation

Local farmers in Muse on the Sino-Burma border have condemned the 2 December contract farming agreement between Thailand and Burma as the cause of escalation in land seizures in their township, report sources from northern Shan State.

Altogether 37,000 acres of land in Muse, 110 miles north of Lashio, have been earmarked for the rubber project. As a result, people in 16 villages have lost their tea, banana and firewood plantations as well as flower and fruit orchards.

While the New Year in the neighboring township of Namhkam began with the massive crackdown on Shan State Army 'South' troops that considerably upset the people's normal life, the one in Muse was shattered by bulldozers that mowed down the plantations and orchards. "When we asked Sai Htun Aye 'Soso-Pyay-Pyay', the owner of the bulldozers, the reason for the outrage, he said he was only following the order from Gen Myint Hlaing (Commander of Northeastern Region Command)," said one of the village headmen whose land was also among those seized.

More than 600 acres of cultivated land were lost in 5 of the 16 villages affected by the abrupt seizure:

However, 20 acres of land belonging to Sai Yi Nawngkham, who surrendered in May and known to be a close associate of Sai Htun Aye, was reportedly left unscathed.

The unexpected move had brought tears to many. "Before this, we were not rich but had enough to eat," a two-children housewife was quoted as saying." But all of a sudden we have become beggars".
Informed farmers think it was the contract farming agreement concluded last month between the two countries that had brought the disaster to them. "Thailand may think they will be able to prevent influx of migrants from Burma by the project," said a businessman whose relatives are among the casualties. "But they can expect more of us coming in the coming days."

According to Thai press reports, Burma had agreed to reserve 7 million hectares (17.5 million acres) to plant crops such as sugarcane, oil palm, maize, cassava and rubber to be supplied to factories in Thailand. "A win-win solution for both," exclaimed Khun Ying Sudarat Keyuraphan, agricultural minister of Thailand, after the signing.

Related report: Contract farming no win-win solution, 3 December 2005